Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1701, 1825
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COST, Kost, Coust, n. Also coast.
1. “Duty paid in kind as distinguished from that paid in money” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D., coust; Ork. 1825 Jam.2; Cai.9 1939).
2. “Sustenance given to a servant in place of money” (Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.).Ork. 1825 Jam.2:
I got so much money in wages, besides my cost, . . . [e.g.] a certain quantity of meal per week.
†Combs.: cost-ale, -bread, “payments in kind made to the hired fishermen at the Midshingle fishings on the Dee” (Abd. a.1724 Rickart MSS. (per W. Walker)).Abd. 1701 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. VI. 112, 184:
Twelve shillings 6d Scots I alloued him for coast ale for season 1701. . . . For a cost of bread to the Midchingle 5⅓ shil.
3. “Bread, provision, means of sustenance” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); in combs. boga-kost, barley-bread, and korka-kost, oaten bread (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[O.Sc. cost, coist, in Ork.: victuals or farm-produce as a medium of payment for rent or dues, from 1503 (D.O.S.T.), late O.N. kostr, victuals, provisions, food (Zoëga), from M.L.Ger., O.Fris. kost, id., from Med. Lat. costa, id. (Franck).]
